Ughhhh , people suck .
The world of modern dating is ever-changing and ever-evolving. From the rise of dating app culture to the way COVID-19 impacted in-person and virtual connections, the dating landscape is certainly not what it used to be! These unique changes also come with new obstacles that we must learn to navigate.
Anyone active online knows that “catfishing,” or pretending to be someone else online, has been a continuous issue on the internet for a couple decades. Now, something known as “romance fraud,” is also becoming a more prominent issue.
Romance fraud, at its essence, is a lot like catfishing in the sense that it boils down to dishonesty in online relationships. But, it takes regular catfishing a frightening step further and introduces money into the equation. Someone online, whether as themselves, a version of themselves, or as a fake persona, builds online relationships with people to them scam them out of money.
Perhaps you witnessed your older uncle become a victim of romance fraud. He got on some dating sites after his divorce and began talking to one particular woman he seemed really excited about. Though they had yet to meet in person, she began hinting to your uncle that she needed money for groceries, gas, and new clothes. She kept putting off meeting him, and continuously cited her financial struggles as the main reason. Your uncle’s daughter finally intervened, and after doing some digging, realized the person he had sent hundreds of dollars to was actually a young man who lived across the country. Your uncle was devastated.
Maybe your friend went through a toughbreakupand got back on the apps to start dating again. She began flirting with one guy a lot, but could never get him on FaceTime or the phone. He vented to her about being low on cash and unable to pay his full rent, and she Venmoed him money as a kind gesture. After you and other friends did some sleuthing, you realized your friend was actually being scammed by a woman you all went to college with!
Or, perhaps you yourself have been tricked online. You set a date with someone on a dating app to go to an amusement park. They allegedly bought both tickets, and had you Venmo them for your ticket. You did so, then drove to meet them at the park. When you got there, you went to text them. Your message wouldn’t go through. You tried calling, but the number was unreachable. You went back to the dating app to pull up your thread, and it was all gone. They tricked you into sending money, then blocked you everywhere and stood you up.
Ughhhh, people suck.
